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Memorizing question
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I’ve been struggling with an issue on scripture memory and was wondering if anyone else has dealt with this and what they did.
I have certain scripture that I want my kids to know-some verses but also whole chapters from the Bible. We do work on these over the summer but run into problems during the school year.
The main problem is that they are involved in Sunday School at church and my older two (ages 12 and 13) are also in a Catechism class. These both require memorizing some verses as well as the Catechism questions and some church history. I’m finding my boys are so taxed by memorizing these things that asking them to memorize more scripture on top of this is very difficult.
So how do I deal with this? When do I have them memorize the scripture my husband and I consider important (yes, sometimes they are the exact same as what’s picked by our church but not always)?
Thanks,
Rebecca
Mom to DS’s ages 13, 12, 8, 7, 5, 13 months and DD age 2My daughter(1st grade) was involoved in a Wed night church 2nd grade class that had a very intense scripture memory program. They memorized two verses per week as well as portions of the books of the Bible. I used those verses from her class for her and her sister (4yo) and when they had a week off or since they started after us and ended before us I used the verses I wanted during those weeks. So I guess I did both. She really struggled at the beginning of the year but it has been neat to see how much easier it has gotten the more she practiced. I do not know how many verses you want them to learn in addition to their church verses, but if you add some every year to what church expects of them maybe they would learn all the ones you choose since there is some overlap. We got a copy of all the verses expected on her first day of class. It may help to know at the beginning of the year what they will be getting at church so you know what you want to add.
I found this article on memorization on the ChildLight USA blog very interesting. (Great blog and general site, by the way for anyone who might not be familiar with it……)
Anyway, this article came to mind when I read your questions, and I had the thought of maybe trying to record what you want your children to memorize and letting them listen to it whenever they are able–in somewhat “free” moments; and just let them enjoy listening and see if that helps them. (ETA: Or have a scheduled listening time where they enjoy listening until they are perhaps ready to recite and give them a due by date or let them come to you and tell you when they are ready to recite. Then when something is mastered, just periodically review it together.)
I’ll quote some of the article below….
I attended a seminar entitled “Nurturing Excellent Communicators” by Andrew Pudewa, author of the Institute of Excellence in Writing. Charlotte Mason’s ideas were heavily incorporated into his presentation, and as a result, I have been contemplating the concept of memorization for months……..
Rafe Esquith, a well-known Los Angeles 5th grade teacher and author of Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire, directs his “Hobart Shakespeareans” (students) in performing plays across the nation. How do they memorize their lines? He attributes it to this: “I burn CDs of the scenes for all the actors, who listen to them at home. Shakespeare is just like music. Instead of memorizing thousands of lines of pop music, the Hobart Shakespeareans use the same energy to memorize beautiful language. It is astonishing how quickly children learn by listening.” This 21st century teacher uses the same techniques that Charlotte Mason once suggested but with an advancement in technology.
A friend of mine devised a creative way for her daughter to memorize Bible verses for AWANA. The child seemed to hit a roadblock when memorizing scripture line by line, so her mother recorded the verses into a free software program, Audacity, and downloaded them into her child’s iPod. What a difference this made for her daughter! ……….
-Kim
Well, we haven’t dealt with the same issues – meaning Sunday school & catechism memory work. However, every morning before breakfast, the older kids (12, 10, 9) memorize one verse for the day. In the evening they review and make sure they remember their new verse. Their dad asks them to recite a few verses before bed (right now they are working on the book of Matthew). Then on weekends, he spends some time with each child and has them recite a whole chapter or two. It’s working well for us.
The younger ones have the same routine, just not so much of it!
Thanks for the ideas.
I think I will get a list at the beginning of the year. That would really help.
Have to think about doing recordings too esp for my non-readers. That would be a great way for them to review independently.
Thanks again!
RebeccaAnother thing I do, since we have gotten on the subject of different methods of memorization, especially for my non reader, is to put a small sticker or picture I have drawn in the corner of the index card their verse is written on. This really helps my non reader though I do not yet know if she is particularly a visual learner or not. So for example for “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” I put a sticker of a present. Oh, and my favorite, for “Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.” I have a picture of a gavel but the girls like to bang the recipe box that we keep our verses in like a gavel! Great for my kinesthetic 1st grader and just fun for my preK! I think using different methods that appeal to different learning styles cements things.
We also listen to Scripture put to music. I myself have memorised so many verses just from listening to the songs! Not all the verses you want them to learn will be put to music though. We also make up songs for verses we’re learning weekly. My ds also uses his toy video camera to record his verse, and then he plays it over and over for himself and his little brother until they learn it. (They’re 7 and 5).
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